Sereno has been ruining the efforts on the distribution of Hacienda Luisita

Current Supreme Court Chief Justice, Maria Lourdes Sereno has been facing accusations of “selling out” the case of Hacienda Luisita due to the fact that the validation process is prolonging the legitimate distribution of land to the Farmers of Hacienda Luisita and the need for “just compensation” for the Cojuanco-Aquinos since 2012, during her time as an Associate Justice.

“The Cojuangcos will surely exploit Hacienda Luisita’s valuation issue and once again run to the courts all the way to the Aquino-Sereno Supreme Court to evade land distribution,” said Randall Echanis, deputy secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

On the other hand, the farmers of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) and the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) are pleading the Supreme Court (SC) to hasten the issuance of a final ruling on the distribution of land to the farmers of the infamous Hacienda Luisita.

On the matter of Sereno’s suggestion to give the Cojuanco-Aquino’s “just compensation” based on the market value of the Hacienda in 2006 being 10 billion pesos, contradicts the 1989 declaration of the SC at 1 percent during that time.

Uma and Ambala conveyed their sentiments in a joint statement stating that, "We are reminding Justice Sereno that it is against the public interest what she had done. Her Dissenting Opinion had served as an apocalyptic warning... The Hacienda Luisita farmers will not pay a cent... Her personal interest is a disservice to the farm workers. We condemn her action to hamper the eventual distribution of Hacienda Luisita in the highest order and it will be dealt with resounding and massive protest if she will not change her ways.”

More than five years after, farmers and their fellowships have been protesting at large, and are still awaiting the final ruling of the SC since 2012. The delays that may be caused by the intervention of the Aquino’s during the Administration of PNoy or of legitimate reasons lie unknown, but one thing is for sure, these delays are incredibly unsettling for the public. The SC’s delays due to Sereno’s administration is a clear symbol of failure to bring justice to the farmers of Hacienda Luisita.

“Aquino and his relatives will never stand down on their consolidated and systematic legal offense running for gain and control of Hacienda Luisita... unless the court will send its clear message that their exploit ends here…” the UMA-AMBALA statement read last 2012.